Pollok, Ortiz lead Pirates to win at Coast Classic
COSTA MESA -- The stamina of Jose Ortiz and the strength of Austin Pollok were the perfect combination for the Orange Coast College men's track and field team in Friday's win at the 7th Annual Coast Classic.
The Pirates used their depth and talent in many events to prevail at this year's meet with 121.5 points. Cuyamaca finished second with 114.5 points, while El Camino (102) finished third in the nine-team meet.
Pollok, one of the top hammer throwers in the state, displayed his talents against some of the top track programs in the state with a winning throw of 162 feet, 5 3/4 inches, over three feet better than runner-up Patrick Larkin of Antelope Valley (159-2 1/4).
Ortiz, a standout distance runner for the Pirates, highlighted a 1-2 finish for the Pirates in the 5,000 meters with a winning time of 15 minutes, 20.2 seconds, well ahead of the rest of the field. Teammate Jay Bonthius finished second with a time of 15:42.99, while El Camino's Reo Miranda-Laverto (15:43.45) took third.
In the 110 hurdles, Andy Bardine (15.76) placed second after being edged out by San Mateo's Kevin Kutchera (15.68) as the two lone sub-16-second runners in the field.
Triple jumper Emanuel Valencia came through with a solid mark and finished second with a distance of 43-2 1/2.
Coast, highlighted by Weston Hall's third-place time of 4:02.45, finished 3-5-6 in the 1,500 to pick up valuable points in the meet.
In the 400 relay, OCC's foursome of Thomas Testini, Edward Sutton, Evant Orange and Colin Steinbroner took third overall with a time of 42.88, a half-second behind winner El Camino (42.35).
The Pirates will return to action on Friday, April 19 at Santa Ana College in the 2013 Orange Empire Conference Prelims, which begin at 10 a.m.
